Shows likeThe Last of UsandFallouthave proven that games can also make for excellent TV shows. When looking at how successful they are, one can’t help but wonder which other franchises could become critically acclaimed TV adaptations.
Many games and IPs can work well, but I have no doubt the ones listed here would translate well as TV shows.
8TheZero EscapeSeries
TheZero Escapeseries comprises three different entries, each involving nine people who are kidnapped and forced to play through a game where their lives hang in the balance. Though eachZero Escapegame differs in its execution, the participants basically navigate through escape rooms by solving puzzles. While seemingly straightforward, each one is full of twists, death, and revelations that will leave you speechless when the credits roll.
These games excel at slowly revealing more and more about the participants, as well as the game itself. Every time you think you understand what’s going on or what could happen next, you’re thrown a curveball that completely throws you off balance. Drip-feeding information in such a manner would keep the audience on their toes and constantly guessing. That, mixed with the sheer brutality, betrayals, and emotional impact of each game, lends the franchise to being a perfect TV miniseries, especially999: Nine Hours, Nine Persons, Nine Doors.
Much like how I’ve enjoyed seeing discussions concerning the TV adaptation ofThe Last of Us, I would be euphoric if I could listen to people try and predict what would happen in the next episode of aZero Escapeshow.
Though all three entries would work well, I think the first twoDead Spacegames would make excellent horror shows. These sci-fi classics begin with engineer Isaac Clark setting out to repair a mining ship, only to discover that something has gone horribly wrong.
Dead Spaceexcelled and innovated the genre when it came out due to its emphasis on ambient fear, a key component inwhat makes horror games feel so tense. The environments, lighting, and unnerving atmosphere would translate beautifully to a horror show.Dead Space 2upped the ante when it threw in violent hallucinations, which would constantly keep the audience on their toes since they would always be wondering if what they were seeing was real or a delusion.
The surplus of superbly designed enemies, the mystery surrounding the Markers, and Isaac’s declining mental state would all surely be enough to entice people to keep watching. A well-madeDead Spaceadaptation could truly be one of the best horror shows ever conceived.
6Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy War
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy Waris a pick even hardcoreFire Emblemfans may not recognize due to it never coming to the West. It sadly also hasn’t received any sort of official translation unless you count information fromFire Emblem Heroes. In this game, you guide Sigurd through many battles before doing the same with his son, Seliph, to bring peace to the land of Jugdral.
Fire Emblem: Genealogy of the Holy Waris easily one of the darkest entries in the franchise. Though it emphasizes large-scale battles and has fewer chapters than most games, many fans agree its story is among the most compelling. There are many underlying plots that are unknown to the player, and every map reveals new twists and betrayals, including one of the most shocking events in gaming about halfway through the story. Murder, torture, and even events like the Child Hunts are regular occurrences, making the setting perfect for a television drama.
Another thing working inGenealogy’sfavor is the diversity of its fighters. While there are your standard soldiers wielding swords, lances, axes, and bows, there are also wyvern and pegasus riders, mages, and those using holy weapons that would make spectacular fight sequences. The narrative and huge battlefields would definitely keep viewers on the edge of their seats.
5Metal Gear Solid
TheMetal Gearseries has to be the most obvious inclusion, but a necessary one, nonetheless. Each game differs in its setting and objective, but most revolve around Solid Snake or Big Boss finding and destroying a “Metal Gear.”
TheMetal Gearfranchise is known for its stealth gameplay, but it also delves heavily into political and philosophical themes, especially concerning war and war profiteering. Honestly, if you were to remove the gameplay entirely, each game would essentially become its own TV drama. Any of the games would translate well for a TV adaptation, but I think the themes and twists inMetal Gear Solidmake it the best starting point. However, that is with the caveat that the events of the first twoMetal Geargames are at least summarized.
Scenes of Snake sneaking around while peppering in noteworthy Codec calls could be used to ensure consistent pacing. Meanwhile, boss battles and the game’s notable plot twists could provide the excitement and cliffhangers needed to keep people talking between episode drops.Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eatercomes out later this year, meaningKonami could bring backMetal Gear Solid, which could provide even more inspiration for the show’s plot.
4TheHitmanSeries
The flow of everyHitmangame makes it an easy recommendation for a TV series. As the name suggests, you take the role of the contract killer, Agent 47, and assassinate targets who are assigned to him in any way you deem fit.
Something working inHitman’s favor is the fact that each mission usually takes place in different locales of varying sizes, meaning each episode could have its own unique setting. While there could be an overall narrative similar to the games, each episode could consist of killing a target and game-adjacent objectives, to gain intel about the overarching plot. The episodes could also explore Agent 47’s backstory, or even that of his marks, to gain a better understanding as to why they’re about to be killed. Given Agent 47 is the world’s most efficient assassin, and the games encourage killing targets in unique ways, there’s no shortage of methods he could employ to take people out.
TheFalloutshow didn’t follow any of the games and is almost universally praised; I think something similar could be done withHitman. The series can do its own thing completely, which would grant the writers a lot of creative freedom, not to mentionHitmanveterans would be clueless as to what’s about to happen. The tone would naturally be serious most of the time, but I will say the games often have hilarious ways to take out targets and areguaranteed to make you laugh, so there’s certainly flexibility there.
3TheMetroidSeries
Considering Samus Aran’s profession is that of an intergalactic bounty hunter,Metroidhas a lot of potential as a TV series. Most games have you dealing with Space Pirates or entities that threaten peace in the galaxy, so Samus definitely has her work cut out for her.
Though manyMetroidgames operate with a minimalist approach to storytelling, the franchise is jam-packed with lore and different avenues a TV show could explore. Episodes could center around Samus collecting bounties that lead to a completely original story arc, or they could follow the games exactly and begin with the originalMetroid. Her suit upgrades would have her gradually growing more powerful as she battles increasingly stronger threats, be it Space Pirates, new enemy types, or perhaps even the Galactic Federation. Let’s not forget Samus isn’t the only bounty hunter out there, meaning we could have climactic showdowns between them.
The franchise is so rich with possibilities, I’d almost be intimidated to green-light aMetroidTV series just because I wouldn’t know where to start.
2Final Fantasy Tactics
Final Fantasy Tacticsis my favorite game, so I won’t deny any bias, but it is meant to be a TV show. There are many major players, but the game mainly follows Ramza, a noble initially fighting for family honor, but who eventually gets caught up in a conspiracy that threatens all of Ivalice.
Final Fantasy Tacticshas all the makings for a high-stakes, exciting television drama. It has mystery, corruption, political commentary, plot twists, and literal demons hellbent on resurrecting their master. The duality in Ramza and Delita’s ideologies alone is enough to warrant discussion, much less all the relevant story events that transpire. In a similar vein toFire Emblem, magic is a common occurrence, and the game’s job system means every important character in the show can have their own unique combination of abilities and magic to use. We’d also get to see series staples like chocobos and summons, with the latter undoubtedly providing a visual spectacle to behold.
The show wouldn’t even have to follow the game directly to be interesting. It would be incredible to see more from Delita’s point of view, or any of the other main characters. It could also explore the Fifty Years' War that takes place before the game, or what happens after Ramza’s journey concludes. If people likedGame of Thrones, they’d be all in for aFinal Fantasy TacticsTV adaptation.
1TheValkyrie ProfileSeries
As much as I adoreFinal Fantasy Tactics,Valkyrie Profilemay be the coolest game franchise to adapt into a TV show. The games are inspired by Norse mythology and have you control valkyries, beings who guide the souls of the dead to Valhalla or to fight at their side.
The gameplay loop ofValkyrie Profile: Lennethfits an episodic format to a T. While there is an overarching narrative, a good portion of the gameplay is recruiting recently deceased souls, and you do so by beholding their final moments in life. Some of them are tragic, others are pathetic, but almost all the stories you watch end in death. Each episode of aValkyrie Profileshow could work similarly, kind of like an inverse ofTheWhite Lotus,since you’ll know who dies, but you won’t know how. There are a lot of supernatural elements at play too, and since valkyries are particularly interested in the souls of warriors, you could expect impressive fight scenes to be included.
The show could follow the games, but it could also take creative liberties by developing its own plot and valkyrie protagonist. Odin is always looking for more souls, so if done correctly, aValkyrie Profileseries could theoretically continue indefinitely.
Though a lot of video game adaptations haven’t worked out as TV shows, the recent successes of ones likeFalloutprove it’s more than possible. I realize most of the entries on this list won’t ever receive that treatment, but if they did, I promise they’d stand tall among the best.
